Track construction and electric signaling and controlling equipment thereof.



G. THOMPSON & H. w. MERCHANT. TRACK CONSTRUCTION AND ELECTRIC SIGNALING AND CONTROLLING EQUIPMENT THEREOF.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1905. I 923,800. Patented June 1.1909.

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G. THOMPSON & H. W.- MERCHANT. TRACK GONSTRUUTION AND. ELECTRIC SIGNALING AND 'OONTROLLING EQUIPMENT THEREOF.

I v APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1906. 923,800.

Patented June 1. 1909.

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G. THOMPSON & H. W. MERCHANT. TRACK cons'rnvc'non AND ELECTRIC SIGNALING, AND GONIROLLING EQUIPMENTTHBBEOP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2'7, 1905.

Patented Junel. 1909.

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1n: NORRIS PETER; co., WASHINGT v G. THOMPSON & H. W. MERCHANT. TRACK consmucmon AND ELECTRIC SIGNALING AND CONTROLLING EQUIPMENT THEREOF.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1905.

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G. THOMPSON & H. W. MERCHANT. TRACK UONSTRUGTION AND ELECTRIC SIGNALING AND CONTROLLING EQUIPMENT THEREOF.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1905.

Patented June 1, 1909.

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GUION THOMPSON, OF MILTON,

CONNECTICUT, AND HUNTINGTON W. MERCHANT, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRACK CONSTRUCTION AND ELECTRIC SIGNALING AND CONTROLLING EQUIIE'MENT THEREOF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1909.

Application filed February 27, 1905. Serial No. 247,579.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GUION THoMPsoN, a cltlzen of the United States, residing at Milton, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, and HUNTINGTON W. MER- CHANT, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track Construction and Electric Signaling and Controlling Equipment Thereof; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion of the invention, such as will enab e others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to track construction and electric signaling and controlling equipment therefor. i

It has for its object the provision of means adapted to communicate to a second conveyance passing upon a portion or block of said track and equlpped with a suitable electric signal-receivmg device, a primary danger signal, indicating the occupancy by a similar or first conveyance of a certain portion of said track in advance of said second conveyance.

It has for a further object such arrangement and construction of said track and signal-communicating means as will adapt it at another point on said track to communicate to any passing conveyance so equipped a secondary danger signalor "fail to danger signal, indicating, if'such be the case, that the primary danger-signal communicating devices are out of order.

It has for its further object such construction of track and electric devices as will communicate such signals at respectively different points to a second and third such conveyance running in opposite directions on one track and equipped as aforesaid.

It has for a further object such construction of the electric equipment for said track as will permit it to be set for operation by a traveling contact at one oint on the route of said track and afterwar discontinued from operation by the action of said traveling contact at a relatively distant point on the route of said track.

With these and other objects in view, it consists of the electric circuits, constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 '1s a diagrammatic view of a railway track constructed and equipped in accordance with our invention, showing diagrammatically a conveyance adapted to move on said track and equipped with devices for operating and availing of said invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of our said invention. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of another modified form of our said invention, and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View of a modified portion of our said invention showing means for discontinuing the electric current through the coil of the electro magnet F. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of another modified form of our invention.

Describing first the form of construction shown in Fig. 1, in the accompanying draW ings, to Which reference is hereby made, 1 and 2 are parallel lines of rails forming a railway track, each of said lines being dividedinto sections in any suitable manner and by any suitable non-conductors of electricity as, in said line 1, by the insulating blocks 1 1 I and 1 and in said line 2 by the insulating bIocksZ 2, 2 and 2 thus dividing said track considering both lines of rails taken to'getherinto sections A, A C and A of which sections those designated A, A and A will usually be much longer than the others of said sections. Whenever, as may be the case, either line of said rails of said sections A, A and A is required to carry a conveyance-driving current of electricity to or from a conveyance moving upon said rails, said line or lines of rails of said sections A and A will be electrically connected with each other around section C, and by any suitable electricity-conductingmeans, as by the wire 3, and said section A will be electrically connected to said section A around said section C and by any suitable electricity conducting means, as by the wire 3 The sections C and C are preferably electrically connected together in any suitable manner and by any suitable electricity conducting means, as by the wire 4, which may be connected to either line of the rails of said sections O and C The sections A and C are normally electrically connected together in any suitable manner and by any suitable means including a normally closed contact, as, preferably, by portions of the wires 4 and 5 and the contact points 4 and 5 The sections B and C are normally electrically connected together in any suitable manner and by any suitable means including a normally closed contact, as, preferably, by portions of said wires 4 and 5 and by said contact points 4 and 5. Stationed at any suitable place with reference to said sections, is a source of electricity of any suitable nature or construction, as for example a battery E. Positioned in any suitable place adjacent to said section 0, as, for example, between the lines of rails thereof, is a pair of normally open electric contacts 6 and 6 electrically insulated from ground, which contact 6, is electrically connected by any suitable means, as by a wire '7, and a portion of the wire 11., with one pole of said battery E. The opposite pole of said battery is connected with one end of the coil of an eleotro-magnet F stationed in any suitable position with reference to said track, the opposite or free end of which coil is provided with a contact or pole 8 of a normally open contact of which the contact 9 is the opposite pole or point. Said last referred to normally open contact is adapted to be closed by the operation of an armature and armature lever 10 governed by said electro-magnet when energized, and said contact 9 is electrically connected by any suitable means, as by the wire 11 with the said opposite pole of said battery E. Said contact 6 is electrically connected by any suitable means or in any suitable manner, as by the branch wire 6 and a portion of the wire 12 with that end of said coil which is connected to said contact 8. If, therefore, the contacts 6 and 6 are closed, or electrically connected together at any time, a closed electric circuit will be established including the contacts 6 and 6, the wire 7, a portion of the wire 11, the battery E, the electro-magnet F a portion of the wire 12 and the branch wire 6 The electromagnet will thereupon be energized and will attract said armature thus closing the normally open contact of which 8 and 9 are the points. An electric circuit will thereby be closed. includingsaid battery, said coil said points 8 and 9 and said wire 11., thus maintaining the energy of said electro-magnet'until said last referred to circuit is broken or opened as hereinafter described. Said contact 6, or the corresponding pole of the source means, as by a wire 13 with a contact 6 which is stationed in, or adjacent to said section C and preferably near to the same line of rails as that to which said contact 6 is near. Adjoining said contact 6 is a contact 6 which is electrically connected by any suitable means, as by a wire 14 with the batteryconnected end of the coil of said electro-magnet F. Said contact 6 is electrically connected by any suitable means as by a wire 6 with one pole 6 of a normally open contact, the opposite pole 6 of which latter contact is electrically connected by any suitable means, as by the wire 12 with that end of said coil which is connected to or carries the contact 8. For convenience, said contacts 6 and 6 may be referred to as the east-bound block-closing contacts and the contacts 6 and 6 may be referred to as the east-bound block-clearing contacts. The contacts 6" and 6 may, for convenience, be referred to as the west-bound block-closing contacts. Positioned in or adjacent to said section (3 are the normally open contacts which may, for convenience, be referred to as the westbound block-clearing contacts 6 and 6*, which contact 6 is electrically connected in any suitable manner or by any suitable means with the conductor 11, or the corresponding pole of said source E, as preferably by a wire 6- and said contact 6 and said wire 7. The contact 6 is electrically connected by any suitable means, as preferably by the wire 6 and a portion of said wire 1-4, with the battery-comiccted end of said coil. Said section A is electrically connected in any suitable manner and by any suitable means including a normally open contact, as by the wires 15 and 15" and the contact points 15 t, and the wire 4, respectively with said sections C and C While we describe the use of certain wires, portions of some of which are at one time included in one circuit and another time in another circuit, it will be obvious to any one skilled in the art that the same operations might be effected by providing separate conductors for certain purposes, as, for example. said wires 4 and 5 might each be divided and separate or duplicate contacts similar to 4" and 5" might be provided to electrically connect the section A with the section C through one of the resulting halves of each of said wires 4 and 5 and to separately connect the section A with the section through the other one of the resulting halves of each of said wires 4 and 5, the operative result being the same as in the case of a part of the single wire 5 and connections performing a service at one time for one end of the block and at another time for the opposite end thereof.

We do not therefore desire to limit ourselves to the exact arrangements of our conductors as shown but regard any variation of such E, 1s electrically connected by any suitable l arrangements which does not materially affect the characteristic features or operations of our invention as being within the spirit and scope thereof.

It will be observed that the insulation blocks are preferably so spaced that at no time may the blocks 1 and 1 or 2 and 2 or 1 and 1 or .2 and 2 intervene at any one time between the circuit terminals represented by said trucks, or between the points of said forward and rearward trucks denial-king the full track-contacting length of said conveyance.

As illustrated, the contacts 6 and 6 are preferably transversely opposite to the contacts 6 and 6 and are alined with the contacts 6 and 6 and are diagonally opposite the contacts 6 and 6 and the contacts 6 and 6 are preferably transversely opposite to the contacts 6 and fi and the latter contacts are alined with the contacts 6 and 6 but this exact arrangement is not in all respects essential but depends to some degree on the position, or adjustability or construction of whatever means may in practice be employed to close said contacts. Said last referred to eight contacts are also preferably laid or positioned in the road bed between said lines of rails and within said sections C and C respectively, as suggested by the drawings; but this arrangement is not in all respects essential, since they may be supported by any suitable means or in any suitable manner, as the side of the track, or upon overhead brackets, or otherwise as desired, depending to a degree upon the position, or adjustability or construction of Whatever means may in practice be employed to close said contacts. It is to be observed also that said wires, rails or contacts are respectively properly insulated by any sufficient means or in any manner from electrical communication with any conductor with which they are not intended to electrically connect or from any conductor which would prevent the operation designed for them to perform. Under certain circumstances the contacts o 6 6 and 6 may if desired be omitted, as when said construction is to be availed 'of only by conveyances passing in one direction upon said rails, as from west to east, returning on another track.

The construction thus far described, exelusive of a conveyance on said rails, is regarded by us as a complete workable device, equipment or apparatus adapted for any use to which it may be put, and adapted to be operated by whatsoever means may be capable of operating it, one of which uses and one of which means for operating it we will now describe.

Referring again to the drawings, 16 represents a locomotive moving on said lines of rails and equipped with an electrical apparatus hereinafter described and which may therefore be called a traveling, or carried electric apparatus or circuit. Said locomotive may be driven by any of a variety of means, as by an electric motor or by steamoperated mechanism (not shown), of any suitable construction, and in any of the well known ways. The forward truck of said locomotive in the particular construction illustrated is insulated from the rear truck thereof in any suitable. manner or by any suitable means, as at 17. Electrically connected to the supporting wheels of said forward truck, by any suitable means, preferably including the wire 18, is one pole of a suitable source of electricity carried by said conveyance, as the battery G, the op osite pole of which is electrically connected with the supporting wheels of said rear truck by any suitable means preferably including the wire 19. For the purposes of said carried circuit, however, said trucks only represent one of several available forms of forward and rearward circuit-closing or track-contacting terminals for said wires 18 and 19 each adapted to contact with both of said lines of rails. Said circuit is adapted to be normally closed by the rails or one of the rails or a portion thereof upon which said trucks stand or run. Carried by said locomotive and interposed in the circuit which includes said source G is an electrically operated signal-receiving device or devices of any suitable nature adapted to have some suitable and desired influence upon the mechanism of said locomotive or upon the operator thereof, as, for example, a safety-slgnal lamp 20 and an electro-magnet 21, which magnet is adapted, for example, to hold in valve-opening position a steam-valve stem, 22 or in circuit-closing position the circuitclosing lever, similarly constructed, of an electric circuit including a motor for driving said conveyance, which lever in either case may constitute the armature, or be carried by the armature of said electro-magnet 21 and adapted when released by said magnet to be retracted to steamvalve-closing or electrio-circuit opening position, as the case may be, by a counter-balance weight or spring 23. If desired said lever, or another lever similarly held might be so arranged as when retracted to set an air brake, thus further controlling said locomotive. Carried by said locomotive is a brush or shoe or bridging contact 24 preferably insulated from said locomotive and adapted when said locomotive is running forward in one direction to contact first with said contacts 6 and 6 and after leaving the latter said contacts to contact, if the locomotive proceed far enough, with said. contacts 6 and 6 and when running forward in the opposite direction to contact first with said contacts 6 and 6 and after leaving said contacts, if the locomotive proceed far enough, to contact with said contacts 6* and 6". Said shoe may, if desired, be transversely movable and so connected with the reverse-lever of the locomotive that when said locomotive is running backward the shoe will be shifted from its normal position to a position in which it may still engage suitable pairs of said block-closing and block-opening contacts; or separate such shoes may be provided and raised or lowered to suitable position, according as said locomotive is running forward or backward. If desired the trackcontacting terminals of said carried circuit may besome other suitable means than said &

truck-supporting wheels; in either case, however, said terminals are each longer than any of said insulation blocks 1, 2, 1, 2, 1", 2", 1 or 2 In the operation of the form of our in vention illustrated in Fig. 1, while the locomotive is wholly on the section A, the circuit from said battery G will be completed through the lamp 20, the electro-magnet 21, the forward and rearward said trucks and a portion of the rails, or of a rail, of said section A. When said forward truck, or its equivalent circuit-terminal straddles or spans said insulation blocks 1 and 2", said circuit from said battery G will still be completed as last 7 above referred to or else the current will be diverted so as to flow from said battery G through said forward truck or terminal to a rail of section C, thence through the wire 4, thence through the contacts 4 and 5 thence through a portion of the wire 5 and rail of section A, the rear truck and electro magnet 21 and lamp 20 back to said battery G, or oppositely. When the forward truck rests entirely on said section C and the rear truck on section A the circuit from said battery G will flow as last above referred to. When said locomotive is entirely on said section 0 the circuit from said battery G will be closed between the trucks by a rail or rails of said section 0. At this time said shoe 24 will close the circuit between said contacts 6 and 6, thus closing the circuit from said battery E through the electro-magnet F, a portion of the wire 12, the contacts 6, the shoe 24, the contact 6, the wire 7 and part of the wire 12 back to said battery E, thus energizing said electro-magnet F, which thereupon attracts said armature 10, breaking the connection between contacts 4 and 5 and establishing electrical connection between said contacts 4" and 15 and also between said contacts 8 and 9, thus closing a circuit from. said battery E through the wire 11, the contact 9, the contact 8 and the coil of said electro-magnet F which last said circuit maintains the energy of said electro-magnet until the current is short-circuited away from said electro-magnet as hereinafter described. Now when said locomotive passes to a position straddling or spanning said insulation blocks 1 and 2 the current from said battery G will flow from the forward truck to a rail of section A, thence through a portion of the wire 15 and the wire 15 and the contacts 15 and 4 and a portion of the wire 4 and a rail of said section 0 to said rear truck and thence through the electro-magnet 21 and lamp 20 back to said battery G. When said locomotive moves wholly on to said section A, said current will flow from one to the other of said trucks directly through a rail of said sec tion A, and such flow will be preserved until said locomotive arrives in a position straddling said insulation blocks 1 and 2 when the current from said battery G will flow from said forward truck to a rail of said section C, thence through a portion of the wire 4 and the contacts 4, 15 and the wire 15 and a portion of the wire 15 to a rail of said section A and thence to said rear truck and, as before, back to said battery G. When said locomotive is wholly upon said section (1 the current from said battery G flows directly through a rail of said section C from the forward to the said rear truck. At, or about the time when said locomotive moves wholly 011 to said section C, the shoe or bridging contact 24 contacts with said contacts 6 and 6, closing said contacts and thus short-circuiting the current from said battery E away from said. electro-nmgnet 1* through the wire 14, contact 6, shoe 24, contact 6, wire .13, contact 6, wire 7, and part of the wire 11, thereby deenergizing said electro-magnet F, which thereupon. drops its armature, breaking the connection between contacts 8 and 9 and between contacts 4 and 15 and establishing electric connection between contacts 4 and 5. N ow when said conveyance moves to a position astride of said insulating blocks 1 and 2 the currents from said battery G will [low from the said forward trucks to a rail of said section A thence through a portion of said wire 5 and through contacts 5 and 4 and a portion of the Wire 4, a rail of section C, to said rear truck and thence as before back to said battery G. When said locomotive straddles said insulation block 2 or moves wholly on to said section A the current from said battery G will flow from said forward truck directly through a rail of said section A to said rear truck.

The operations heretofore described indicate and presuppose a clear track in front of said locomotive on the sections C, A, and C. If while said. conveyance is on said section A a second conveyance similarly equipped attempts to cross either of said sections 0 or C going toward said section A, thecurrent from said battery G on said second conveyance will usually under such conditions be interrupted the moment the forward truck of said second conveyance passes the insulation blocks 1 and 2", or 1 and 2*, as the case may be, for the reason that at such time under such conditions no electrical connection will usually exist between said sections A and C or between said sections A and C. The safety signal lamp on said second conveyance will therefore be extinguished and the valve-closing, or switchopening lever held by the electro-magnct 21 on said second conveyance will be released. This may be termed the danger signal. and indicates the occupancy of the block A by the first said conveyance or locomotive. If, however, because of some defect or failure in the apparatus, the magnet F failed to become or remain energized after the contact of the shoe on the first conveyance or locomotive with said contacts 6 and 6 the second or third conveyance would get no signal upon its forward truck passing wholly on to said section C or C respectively, even though said first conveyance still occupied said section A but the current from the battery carried by said second or third conveyance would in such case be interrupted the moment that the whole of its forward truck passed over said insulation blocks 1 and 2 or over said insulation blocks l and 2 as the case might be, for the reason that because said magnet F failed its armature would not at such time be lifted or electrical connection established through said contacts 4 and 15 from said section C to said section A or from said section 0 to said section A The safety signal lamp 20 on said second conveyance would thereupon be extinguished and the valve-closing or switchopening lever held by the electro-magnet 21 on sald second conveyance would be released. This may be termed the fail to danger slgnal, meaning that when the primary danger-indicating mechanism becomes defective or fails to perform its office the failure thereof will bring into action other danger-indicating devices which will indicate that the primary danger signaling devices cannot longer be relied upon. The subsequent action of the operator or engineer of said second conveyance will then be as may be prescribed by law or the rules of the road. In like manner when the first conveyance enters upon said section A if said magnet F fails to attract or hold its armature said first conveyance will receive a "fail to danger signal and the sub-action of its engineer will be as may be in such case prescribed by law or by the rules of the road; or if said magnet F drops its armature or any other sufiicientdefect in the devices comes into existence while said first conveyance is on said section A said first conveyance will recelve a fail to danger signal when it enters partly on said section C from said section A and. the action of its engineer will thereafter be, in consequence, as in such case prescribed by law or the rules of the road.

If such a locomotive should be running backward on said lines of rails with a properly shifted shoe 24 or if it were turned about and were running forward in the di rection opposite to that first described, the action of said invention will be similarly as before, except that in such case the current energizing said magnet F will first flow from one pole of said battery E through the coil of said electro-magnet F, thence through said wire 12, thence through said contact 6 thence through said shoe 24, thence through said contact 6 thence through said wire 6", thence through said contact 6, thence through said wire 7 and part of said wire 11, to said battery E, when said conveyance thereafter reaches the contact 6 and 6 the block will be cleared by short circuiting the current away from said electro-magnet F from one pole of said battery E through the wire 6 thence through said contact 6 thence through said shoe 24, thence through said contact 6 thence through said wire 6 thence through said contact 6, thence through said wire 7 and part of said wire 11 to the opposite pole of said battery E.

While we have referred to the direction of flow of various currents we do not desire to be limited to currents flowing in such directions; the connections may in some instances be transposed within the scope and spirit of our invention, the circuits resulting being equivalent and the operations and results secured being the same. The various contact points or surfaces may within the scope and spirit of our said invention be constructed and supported in any suitable manner or of anysuitable material and some of those governed by said armature or armature-lever 10, may embody portions of said armature or armature-lever insulated from other portions thereof or said last referred to contacts may consist as shown of points or contacts carried by said armature or armature-lever but not including any part thereof in circuit.

In Fig. 2 of said drawings, we have illustrated a modified form of our invention adapted for use where the rails are not required to carry a conveyance-driving powercurrent. In this form of construction the metallic bridge 3 is omitted, and the contacts 6, 6 6 and 6 are preferably included in the lines of conveyance-supporting rails. Since the circuits are in other respects substantially the same as shown in Fig. 1, relatively corres onding parts are indicated by the same re erence figures or characters as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3, we have illustrated a second modified form of our said invention, in which the invention is adapted for operation by a third rail or trolley independent of the supporting rails of such conveyance, in this case no 1nsulations need be used in said supporting rails, and another rail, 3, may be substituted for supporting the conveyance in the place of the rail or trolley 2 thus relieved from such service. The form of our invention shown in Fig. 3 may also be used on a highway for automobiles requiring no conveyance-supporting rails; or if such supporting ralls are laid they may be used eit er to support a steam-driven conveyance, or to carry a driving electric current to an electrically-driven conveyance running on said supporting rails. In this form of our invention if the supporting rails be carrying a conveyance-driving electric current the rail-contacting terminals of the wires 25 and 26 of the traveling circuit will be insulated in any suitable manner, or by any suitable means from the supporting wheels or supporting rails of said conveyance. In other respects the circuits are substantially the same as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 we have therefore indicated the relatively cor responding parts of the circuits by the same reference numerals or characters as in said Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 4, we have illustrated a modified form of construction of the means for discontinuing the electric circuit through the coil of said magnet F, which latter modified construction is applicable within the spirit and scope of our invention to either of the forms of our invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 or 3. This modification affects only the means employed for the deenergization of F, after it has been energized in the manner already described and in no way changes the construction or operation of the signal and safety appliances on the conveyance. This is accomplished by introducing a normally closed circuit-breaking contact 7r into the electric connection between the said battery or source of electricity E and that end. of said coil of said electro-magnet l? which is normally connected to said battery, and by introducing an electro-magnet G and a source of electricity H into the normally open circuit between, for example, the points of the contacts 6 and 6. Said electro-magnet G is provided with an armature 16 adapted when operated or attracted to said magnet G to break said normally closed contact 75. In such case the wires 6 and 14 and the contacts 6 and 6 will be connected to the coil of said electro-magnet G. When the brush or shoe 24, passing from left to right makes contact between 6 and 6 a circuit will be established from battery E, contact K, coil of electro-magnet F, wires 6 6", 24, 6 and 7 back to E, which will cause F to attract its armature, closing contacts 8 and 9, and 4* and 15 and opening contacts 4 and 5 as hereinbefore described. Now when the contacts 6" and 6, for example, are electrically connected or closed by said traveling contact 24, a circuit will be established from said source H through the coil of said electromagnet G and the wire 14 and the contact 6 and the shoe 24 and the contact 6 and the wire 4 and a portion of the wire 7 and the wire 7 back to said source H; thus magnetizing said magnet G and causing it to momentarily attract its armature 16 and thereby to momentarily or temporarily break said contact 7c.

In Fig. 5, we have illustrated still another modified form of our invention, in which latter form there is introduced another magnet similar to the first said electromagnet F, and connected in multiple with the first said elec'tro-magnet F through two normally open electro-contacts.

certain of the circuits of the other forms, and

the parts approximately corresponding to said other forms are designated in the same or approximately the same manner.

In view of the extended description given of the invention constructed as shown in Fig. 1, it is believed that the brief descriptions of the forms shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be sul'licient to fully disclose the invention as illustrated in the latter four figures to anyone skilled incthc art, and that therefore further description thereof will not be necessary.

While we have described the above modifications or various forms of our invention we do not desire to be limited to the exact modificati ns shown or to the exact wiring schemes shown, as it is evident to anyone skilled in the art that further modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of our invention and without departing from the general principles thereof.

Having now described our said invei'ition, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. The combination of a normally open multiple electric circuit of two branches, including a source of electricity, and an electro-magnct common to both said branches and a. normally open circuit-controlling contact in each branch of said circuit, one of said open contacts being positioned at one side of an imaginary line and the other of said open contacts being positioned diagonally opposite to the first said cont act and on the opposite side of said line; a traveling bridging contact adapted when moving in one direction to temporarily close the first said normally open contact and when moving in the opposite direction to temporarily close the other of said normally open contacts; and a normally open electric circuit including said source of electricity, the coil of said elcctro-n'iagnct and a normally open contact; adapted to be closcd when said electro-magnet is energized.

2. The combination of a normally open multiple electric circuit of four branches, including a source of electricity common to each of said branches, an clcctro-magnet common to two of said branches, and a normally open circuit-controlling contact in each branch of said multiple circuit, the open contacts of the electro-niagnet-containing branches being positioned diagonally opposite to each other near the corresponding diagonally opposite corners oi a parallclogram, and the open contacts of the other two branches being positioned diagonally opposite to each other near the other diagonally opposite corners of said parallelogram, and a traveling bridging contact adapted when proceeding in one direction to first close for a brief period the normally This form embodies open contact of one of the electro-niagnetiliitt containing branches of said. circuit, and after leaving said contact to close for a brief period the normally open contact of one of said branches in which. said electro-magnet is not included, and when moving in the opposite direction to first close for a brief pe riod the contact of the other of the electromagnet-including branches of said multiple circuit and after leaving said contact to close for a brief period the contact of the other of said branches in which said electromagnet is not included.

The combination of a normally open multiple electric circuit of five branches, including a source of electricity common to each of said branches, an electro-magnet common to three of said branches, and a normally open circuit-controlling contact in each of said branches, the normally open said contacts of two of the electro-magnetcontaining branches being positioned diagonally opposite to each other along the route of a traveling bridging contact, the normally open contacts of the said branches in which said electro-magnet is not included being positioned diagonally opposite to each other along said route in such manner that a straight line drawn between them would intersect a straight line drawn between the first two said diagonally opposite contacts, a traveling bridging contact adapted when traveling in one direction to first close for a brief period the normally open contact of one of the electro-magnet containing said branches, and subsequently to leaving said contact to close for a brief period the normally open contact of one of said branches in which said electro-magnet is not included an armature governed by said electromagnet and adapted when attracted by said electro-magnet to close the normally open contact of the third electro-magnet-containing branch of said multiple circuit.

4. The combination of a normally open multiple electric circuit of five branches, including a source of electricity common to each of said branches, an electro-magnet common to three of said branches, and a normally open circuit-controllin contact in each of said branches, the normal y open said contacts of two of the electro-ma net-containing branches being positioned diagonally opposite to each other along the route of a traveling bridging contact, the normally open contacts of the said branches in which said electro-magnet is not included being positioned diagonally opposite to each other along said route in such manner that a straight line drawn between them would intersect a straight line drawn between the first two said diagonally opposite contacts, a traveling bridging contact adapted when traveling in one direction to first close for a brief period the normally open contact of one of the electro-magnet-containing said branches, and subsequently to leaving said contact to close for a brief period the normally open contacts of one of said branches in which. said electro-magnet is not included an armature governed by said electro-magnet and adapted when attracted by said electro-magnet to close the normally open contact of the third electro-magnet-containing branch of said multiple circuit; a line of rails or a trolley laid along said route or parallel therewith and electrically divided into sections; a traveling normally closed electric circuit, including a source of electricity, and electrical devices adapted to be operated by electricity flowing therefrom, and rail or trolley-contacting contacts, said traveling circuit being adapted to progressively loop into circuit and be normally closed by, and to progressively drop out of circuit said sections of rails or trolley or portions thereof; a plural number of partial circuits having circuit controlling contacts adapted to be governed by an electro-magnet of said multiple circuit, said partial circuits each having another circuit-controlling contact adapted in relative succession to be closed by, and normally to close and be looped into said traveling circuit.

5. The combination of a normally open multiple electric circuit of two branches including a source of electricity common to each of said branches, an electro-magnet in one of said branches and a normally open circuit controlling contact in each of said branches; and a normally open electric circuit includin said source of electricity, the coil of said e ectro-magnet and a normally 0 en contact adapted to be closed when said e ectro-magnet is energized.

6. The combination of a normally open multiple circuit of three branches including a source of electricity common to all of said branches, an electro-magnet common to only two of said branches, and a normally open circuit controlling contact in each of said branches; an armature for said electromagnet adapted when attracted to said electro-magnet to close the normally open contact in one of the electro-magnet-containing branches ofsaid circuit and when retracted to open or re-open the last said contact.

7. The combination of a normally open multiple electric circuit including three branches and including a source of electricity common to each of said three branches, a normally open circuit controlling contact in each of said three branches, an electro-mag net common to two of said branches; an armature for said electro-magnet adapted when attracted by said magnet to close the normally open contact of one of said electromagnet containing branches, a traveling bridging contact adapted when proceeding in one direction to first close the normally open contact of the other of said electromagnet containing branches and after leaving and re-opening the same to close the normally open contact of the one of said branches which does not include said electromagnet.

8. The combination of a normally open electric circuit including a source of electricity, the coil of an electro-magnet and a normally open circuit-controlling contact; a normally open second electric circuit, including a source o'l' electricity, the coil of an electromagnet and a normally open ciicuit-controlling contact; an armature governed by the electro-magnet of said second circuit and adapted to be operated thereby to close the normally open cont-act of said second circuit when the normally open contact of the first saidv circuit is closed; a partial circuit including a normally closed circnit-controlling contact adapted to be opened or broken by the operation of said armature when said armature is attracted toward its governing electromagnet, and a normally open circuit-controlling contact; a second normally open partial circuit. including a normally open ciruit-controlling contact and a second normally open circuit-controlling contact, the last said contact being adapted to be closed by the operation of said armature when said armature is attracted toward its governing electro-magnet; means for momentarily or for a brief period closing and subsequently re-opening the normally open contact of the first said circuit; means including a normally open circuit-controlling contact normally adapted when the last above said contact is closed to discontinue the flow ol' the electric current through the coil of the electro-magnet ol' the second said electric circuit, and means adapted to momentarily or i or a brief period close the last said contact.

9. The combination of a normally open electric circuit including a source of electricity, the coil of an GlfiOlZTO-llltglffl'i and a normally open circuit-controlling contact; a normally open second electric circuit including a source of electricity, the coil of an electromagnet, and a normally open circuit--control ling contact; an armature governed by the electro-magnet oi said second circuit and adapted to be operated thereby to close the normally open contact of said second circuit when the normally open contact of the first said circuit is closed; a partial circuitincluding a normally closed circuit-controlling contact adapted to be broken by the operation of said armature when said armature is attracted toward its governing electro-magnet, and a normally open circuit-controlling contact; a second normally open partial circuit including a normally open circuit-controlling contact and a second normally open circuitcontrolling contact, the last said contact being adapted to be closed by the operation of said armature when said armature is at tracted toward its governing electro-magnet; a normally open third electric circuit electrically connected at one end to that end of the said coil of said second circuit which is normally or permanently connected to the source of electricity ol' said second circuit, the opposite end of said third circuit being electrically connected to the opposite pole of the last said source, said third circuit includ ing a normally open contact; a traveling contact adapted when moving in one direction to first temporarily or for a brief period close the normally open contact of the first said circuit. and after leaving said contact to subsequently temporarily or for a brief period close the said normally open contact of said third circuit: a traveling normally closed electric circuit including a source of electricity adapted when moving in one direction to temporarily loop in and close. the said partial circuit when said armature is in retracted position, and subsequent to dropping out the first said partial circuit, to temporarily loop in and close and be closed by the second said partial circuit when said armature is attracted to its governing magnet: a series of contacts including the normally open contacts of the first said partial circuit and the first said normally open contacts ol the said second partial circuit and other con tacts adapted normally to successively close said traveling circuit.

10. lhe combination of a normally open lectric circuit including a source of electricity, the coil of an. clectro-magnct and a. normally open circuit controlling contact; a normally open second electric circuit, includ- .ing a source of electricity, the (oil ol an electro-magnet and a normally open circuit controlling contact; means governed by the electroanagnet oi said second circuit adapted, when the normally open contact of the first said circuit is closed, to close the normally open contact of said second circuit; a partial circuit including a normally closed circuitcontrolling contact and a normally open circuit-controlling contact; means governed by the electro-nnignet of said second circuit adapted when operated to open the normally closed contact of said partial circuit; a second normally open partial circuit including a normally open circuit-controlling contact and a second normally open circuit controlling contact; means governed by the. electro-magnet of said second circuit and adapted to temporarily close the said second normally open contact of said second partial circuit when said elcctro-magnct of said second circuit is energized; means adapted to momentarily or for a brief period close the normally open contact of the first said circuit; electrically operated means including a normally open circuit-control]ing contact and normally adapted when the last said contact is closed to discontinue the How of electricity through the coil of the magnet of the said second circuit, and means for temporarily closing the last said contact; a normally closed traveling electric circuit including a source of electricity and a signal device or valve-governing means adapted when proceeding in one direction to first for a brief period loop in and close and be closed by the first said partial circuit when the normally closed contact of the first said partial circuit is closed and after dropping out the first said partial circuit to subsequently loop in and close and be closed by the second said partial circuit when the said second normally open contact of said second partial circuit is closed; a series of contacts, including the normally open contact-s of the first said partial circuit and the first said normally open contacts of the said second partial circuit and one or more relatively independent contacts normally ada ted to be each successively for a brief periodqooped into and in turn to close and maintain said traveling circuit.

11. The combination of a normally open electric circuit, including a source of electricity, the coil of an electro-magnet and a normally open circuit-controlling contact; a second normally open electric circuit including a source of electricity an electro-magnet and a normally open circuit-controlling contact; an armature governed by the electro-- magnet of said second circuit and adapted when operated to close the normally open contact of said second circuit; a partial circuit including a normally open circuit con trolling contact ada ted to be closed by said armature when sai armature is attracted toward its said governing electro-magnet, and a second normally open contact.

12. The combination of a plural number of partial circuits each having a normally open circuit-controlling contact including two mutually contiguous points or rails each of which points or rails separately in whole or in part, and each pair of said points or rails as elements of the respective said partial circuits is adapted to be in relative succession looped into a traveling circuit to normally close said circuit and to be each in relative succession dropped out of said traveling circuit as the relatively succeeding said points or rails or pairs thereof are looped into said circuit, the first of said partial circuits including a normally closed circuit controlling contact, the second and third of said partial circuits each including a second normally open circuit controlling contact and the fourth of said 'iartial circuits including a normally closed circuit controlling contact; means including a traveling contact adapted to open the normally closed contact of the first said partial circuit after said partial circuit has been dropped from said traveling circuit and simultaneously to close the said second normally open circuit-controlling contacts of the second and third said partial circuits and to simultaneously open the normally closed circuit-controlling contact of said fourth partial circuit, and means including a traveling contact adapted to open the second normally open contacts of each of said second and third partial circuits after the said third partial circuit has been dropped from said traveling circuit, and simultaneously to close the normally closed circuit-controlling contact of said fourth partial circuit.

13. The combination of a normally open electric circuit including a source of electricity, the coil of an electro-magnet and a normally open circuit controlling contact; a second normally open electric circuit, including a source of electricity, the coil of an electromagnet and a normally open circuit-controlling contact; an armature governed by the electro-magnet of said second circuit and adapted normally to be operated by its governing electro-magnet to close the normally open contact of the said second circuit when the normally open contact of the first said circuit is closed; a partial electric circuit comprising a normally open circuit-controlling contact governed by said armature and adapted to be closed thereby when said armature is attracted towardits said governing electro-magnet, and electric conductors extending from the opposite points of the last said normally open contact and provided at their outer ends with mutually contiguous normally open circuit-controlling contacts; a conveyance; a normally closed electric circuit partly carried thereby and including a source of electricity and devices to be operated by electricity flowing from the last said source, and rail or trolley-contacting contacts; a conductor or conductors of electricity adjoining said conveyance and forming a line of rails or a trolley, electrically divided into sections and including both of the outward contacts of said partial circuit and adapted normally to be progressively looped in and dropped from said carried circuit; means carried by said conveyance adapted to close the normally open contact of the first said circuit before said conveyance has reached the position where both or portions of each of said outward contacts of said partial circuit are included in the circuit partly carried by said conveyance.

14. The combination of a normally open electric circuit, including a source of electricity, the coil of an electro-magnet and a normally open circuit-controlling contact; a second normally open electric circuit, including a source of electricity, the coil of an electromagnet and a normally open circuit-controlling contact, an armature adapted to be governed by the electro-magnet of said second circuit and adapted normally to be operated by its said governing magnet to close the normally open contact of said second circuit when the normally open contact of the first said circuit is closed; a partial electric circuit including a normally closed circuit-controlling contact governed by said armature and adapted to be opened thereby when said armature is attracted toward its governing electro-magnet, electric conductors extending from the opposite points of said normally closed contact and provided at their outward ends With mutually contiguous normally open circuit controlling contacts; a conveyance a normally closed electric circuit partly carried by said conveya cc and including a source of electricity, devices to be operated by electricity flowing from the last said source, and rail or trolley-contacting contacts; a conductor or conductors of electricity adjoining said conveyance and forming a line of rails or a trolley, electrically divided into sections and including both of the out- Ward contacts of said partial circuit, and adapted normally to be progressively looped into and dropped from said. carried circuit; means carried by said conveyance adapted to close the normally open contact of the first said circuit after said conveyance has reached a position Where both of said outward contacts of said partial circuit have been included in the circuit partly carried by said conveyance.

15. The combination of a temporarily closed electric circuit inchidine' a source of electricity, he coil of an electro-inagrnet and a temporarily closed circuit-controlling contact; a partial electric circuit including a temporarily closed circuit-controlling contact governed by the electro-magnet o'l' said temporarily closed electric circuit and adapted to etlect the discontinuance of the flow of electricity through the coil of said electro-niagnet; conductors of electricity ex tending from the opposite points ol the temporarily closed contact of said partial circuit and provided at their outward ends with mutually contiguous normally open circuit controlling contacts; a conveyance; a normally closed electric circuit partly carried therel and including: a source ol cloctricity and d vices adaptrd to be oporatcd by electricity tlon'imr thcrclronr and rail or trolley-contactinir contacts. electric conductors adjoining, said ccnvcyancr and l'orming a line or" rails or a, trolley electrically di vidcd into sections and including both ol' the outvvard contacts ol' said partial circuit and adapted normally to be pi'o i3jios.-:i\ol v looped into and to close said partly carried circuit and to be progrrcssivcly dropped therefrom; and means adapted to be op(-l atcd in part by said conveyance to discoutinuo the lion ol electricity in the coil ol the first said clcctroanagrnot alter the outward contacts or either ol' them of said partial circuit have bccu dropped l'rom m'thl partlv carried circuit.

16. A multiple electric circuit, including; source ol electricity common to 'trtll oi" three branches, the coil (ii an clcctro-ma rnct common to tvvo ol said branches, a separate normally open circuit controlling: conta t for each ol' said branches, it traveling brid ing' contact adaptcd to close the normally opcn contact cl' one of said branches in which raid electro-ma ncl. is included and subsequently to learn and rc-opcningr the latter said contact to close the norimilly opcn contact ol' the branch in which said electro-magnet is not included: and means governed by said clcctro magrnct adaptcd to close the normally open contact ol' the other elcctro-inagnetscontaininc; branch \vhilo said clectro-ma gjnet is energized.

in testimony \vhcrcol' \vc hereunto atlix our signatures, in presence ol' two witnesses.

GUION Tilt)- Pb-ON. I'll. YllihG'lON ll iylil llttlllilN'l. \l'itnesscs:

Janus 'l. illrrsox, Jenn J. Lemmy. 

